SafePlants

Broomsedge Bluestem (Andropogon virginicus)

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is a grass.

Considerations for Children

• This plant is a grass.

Common Names

• Broomsedge Bluestem
• Yellowsedge Bluestem
• Broomsedge
• Yellowsedge
• Virginia Bluestem
• Whiskey Grass
• Broom Grass
• Broom Sage
• Sage Brush
• Yellow Bluestem
• Broomstraw
• Sedge Grass
• Sage Grass
• Old-field Broomstraw

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Andropogon virginicus L.
• Family: Poaceae (Grass family)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Spermatophyta
• Synonyms:
  • Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus (Chase, 1950)
• USDA PLANTS Symbol: ANVI2

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the eastern United States and southern New England.
• Introduced in many other areas.
• Common on many pasture sites across northeast Kansas.
• Found in the Northeast.

Ecological Role

• Can be an invader on disturbed sites, unlike its relatives Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium).
• Sometimes considered a weed.
• Sign of poor soil.

Morphological Characteristics

• Caespitose perennial bunchgrass.
• Grows in small tufts.
• Flat base is usually yellow.
• Overlapping.
• Height: Typically grows 4 to 6 feet tall, with shorter varieties reaching 2 to 3 feet.

Growth Habits

• Warm-season grass, actively growing during warmer months.
• Perennial, growing to 1.2 m (4ft).
• Hardy to zone (UK) 6.
• Flowers from September to October.
• Flowers are hermaphrodite.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Provides nest cover, roosting cover, and escape for wildlife.

Quirky Facts

• Historically, housewives used the long, bush-like grasses to make brooms, which accounts for the common name.
• Turns a conspicuous reddish-orange color in the fall.

Further Information

• USDA NRCS Louisiana State Office
• National Plant Data Center
• USDA Forest Service Species Summary
• Encyclopedia of Life
• Discover Life
• Dave's Garden
• Ohio State Weed Lab
• ResearchGate